"There's no sadness on this team. We're happy to be going to Chicago. We could be going back to San Francisco. We could be going back to paint the garage."

That still could happen. But it does appear the Giants are afire, while the Cubs look burned out. The Cubs have lost six of their last eight games and their relief corps so terrifies manager Jim Riggleman that he made his closer work three innings Sunday.

The Giants had won six in a row before Sunday. Eight days ago, they trailed by four games in the wild-card chase.

"We're thrilled and excited for a chance to play for the wild card in Wrigley Field," said San Francisco assistant general manager Ned Colletti, a native Chicagoan who spent 12 years in the Cubs front office.

San Francisco's starter Monday night, right-hander Mark Gardner (13-5, 4.27 earned-run average), hasn't lost since July 30. And the Giants' closer is rested. Robb Nen needed only two pitches to get beat Sunday as opposed to the 36 pitches in three innings Rod Beck used in Houston.

On the cover of this year's San Francisco media guide, Beck is shown being mobbed by teammates after finishing the NL West title-clincher for the Giants last September.

There are other connections between these clubs. There's Colletti. There's reserve shortstop Shawon Dunston, a hero of the Cubs' last postseason run, and backup infielder Rey Sanchez. Coach Gene Clines finished his career with the Cubs.

But Carter is the most intriguing former North Sider. A midseason pickup from Baltimore, he's hitting .307 with seven homers and 29 runs batted in in 40 games.

"I'm very happy that I can produce on my way out," said Carter, who hit a homer and singled twice Sunday.

The way Carter has swung the bat lately, it's not hard to envision him committing property destruction Monday night along Waveland Avenue.

According to legend, the higher the number of former North Siders on a team's roster, the lower the odds that the aforesaid team will succeed in the postseason. It's called the ex-Cub factor.

Ask the Boston Red Sox, still hurting from Bill Buckner's error in the 1986 World Series, if it is relevant. It remains to be seen how the ex-Cub factor will play out against the actual Cubs.